If Blackjack is new to you then
you'll find that the play of the game and
rules are pretty simple to learn and be comfortable with.
There are a few points of etiquette in a real casino to know but most of you
will be trying out blackjack online. So here are a few tips.

Stick to
your bankroll Choose an amount of money that you are prepared to lose
and stick to that idea without any wavering. This is the Golden
Rule.

Don't copy other playersMost players
play the game quite badly and if you are at a multi-player table its tempting
to do what others do and in the real world there is sometimes pressure to do
so.

Don't Mirror the DealerA ploy often used by new players
is to copy the dealers play which is strictly governed by the rules of the
game. The dealer will stick on soft 17, which is an Ace and a Six. This is
never good for the player.

Be prepared to hit Hard Totals (Hard
totals are those without an Ace counting as 1)It is easy to fear hitting
totals from 12 to 16 as you know a ten will bust all of these hands. But
sometimes part of your winning play to is make a decent hand that will either
tie or beat whatever the dealer makes.

Never Double against a 10 or
AceUK and European rules of blackjack dictate that the dealer does not
check their one hidden card for a Blackjack when their visible card is a Ten or
an Ace (unlike in the USA for instance). This means you are playing your hand
with the possibility that you have already lost. So it is a bad play that will
cost you money if you double down against either 10 or Ace.

Never
Split against an AceFor the same reason as the above tip play your hand
as one hand when the dealer shows an Ace.

Never Split Fives or
TensThe option to split cards, that is turn 3-3 into two different
hands with a 3 in each, is one of the positive options in this game. It can
turn 6 (3-3), which is not a good total, into two potentially strong hands as 3
gives you options to make a great hand with say an 8 and a ten, or a doubling
hand if you catch a 6, 7 or 8. But 5-5 and 10-10 are strong as they are so
don't be tempted.

Learn some Basis StrategyBasic strategy is
what professionals call the optimum play for each combination of players hands
and dealers up-card. It is surprisingly easy to learn and can be found here.

Don't dream of being a professional playerA very tiny number
or people have beaten the game of blackjack for good sums of money. There are
many times this number who thought they could and lost a lot of
money.